Transmission of device-to-device (d2d) control data from a first d2d device to a second d2d device in a cellular communication system

ABSTRACT

A first wireless communication device receives device-to-device (D2D) control information from a base station in a cellular communication system and sends second device D2D control data to a second wireless communication device. The second device control data is used for D2D communication over a D2D communication link between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device. The second device D2D control data is at least partially based on the D2D control information.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 16/116,648, entitled “TRANSMISSION OFDEVICE-TO-DEVICE (D2D) CONTROL DATA FROM A FIRST D2D DEVICE TO A SECONDD2D DEVICE IN A CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM” and filed on Aug. 29,2018; which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/400,385, entitled “TRANSMISSION OF DEVICE-TO-DEVICE (D2D)CONTROL DATA FROM A FIRST D2D DEVICE TO A SECOND D2D DEVICE IN ACELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM” and filed on Nov. 11, 2014; which is anational stage application of PCT/US2013/042505, entitled “TRANSMISSIONOF DEVICE-TO-DEVICE (D2D) CONTROL DATA FROM A FIRST D2D DEVICE TO ASECOND D2D DEVICE IN A CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM” and filed on May23, 2013; which claims priority to Provisional Application No.61/650,865 entitled “SIGNALING REDUCTION IN P2P COMMUNICATION USINGMACROCELL RESOURCES” and filed on May 23, 2012, all assigned to theassignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference in theirentirety. The present application is also related to PCT Application No.PCT/US2013/042503, entitled “MANAGEMENT OF DEVICE-TO-DEVICECOMMUNICATION RESOURCES USING CHANNEL SYMMETRY,” and to PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US2013/042511 entitled “ACKNOWLEDGMENT MESSAGING OVER REFERENCESIGNALS,” both filed concurrently on May 23, 2013, all assigned to theassignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD

This invention generally relates to wireless communications and moreparticularly to management of device-to-device (D2D) communicationresources by transmitting D2D control data from a first wirelesscommunication device to a second wireless communication device in acellular communication system.

BACKGROUND

Many wireless communication systems use base stations to providegeographical service areas where wireless communication user equipment(UE) devices communicate with the base station providing the particulargeographical service area in which the wireless communication UE devicesare located. The base stations are connected within a network allowingcommunication links to be made between the wireless communicationdevices and other devices. In some circumstances, the communicationlinks are between wireless communication UE devices that are close toeach other. In these situations, it may be preferred to have a directcommunication link between the two wireless UE devices rather thancommunicating through a base station. Such direct communication betweendevices is often referred to as device-to-device (D2D) communication orpeer-to-peer (P2P) communication.

SUMMARY

A first wireless communication device receives device-to-device (D2D)control information from a base station in a cellular communicationsystem and sends second device D2D control data to a second wirelesscommunication device. The second device control data is used for D2Dcommunication over a D2D communication link between the first wirelesscommunication device and the second wireless communication device. Thesecond device D2D control data is at least partially based on the D2Dcontrol information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example of a macrocell communicationsystem that supports device to device (D2D) communication where a firstwireless communication device sends D2D control signals to a secondwireless communication device for D2D link management.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an example of a communication system wheremacrocell communication resources are used to establish adevice-to-device (D2D) communication link between wireless communicationdevices.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of an example of the resources used in thecommunication system of FIG. 1A to establish the D2D communication link.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example of a method of managing D2Dcommunication at a wireless communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a cellular system that supports D2D communication, communicationresources are allocated for D2D communication between D2D devices. Theuse of communication resources for D2D management is reduced byproviding D2D control information to less than all of the D2D devicesengaged in a D2D communication session. For one example, a D2D devicereceives D2D control data from another device instead of directly from abase station. A controller connected to the base station provides D2Dcontrol information to a first D2D device and the first device sends D2Dcontrol data to a second D2D device, where the D2D control data is atleast partially based on the D2D control information. In someimplementations, the controller allocates D2D control information thatgenerally identifies communication resources to be used for D2Dcommunication and the first D2D device schedules (allocates) D2Dcommunication resources, from the system identified resources, fortransmission from one or both of the D2D devices and informs the secondD2D device of the allocation. In more tightly system controlledimplementations, the controller more specifically identifies, to thefirst D2D device, the D2D communication resources to be used by each D2Ddevice and the first D2D device relays the information to the second D2Dinformation. The D2D control data provided to the second D2D device mayinclude scheduling information, such as the identification ofcommunication resources allocated for D2D communication, and may alsoinclude timing and synchronization information.

D2D link information is transmitted by the first D2D device to a basestation and provide to the controller. The D2D link information includesinformation about the D2D communication channel and communication thatallows the controller to schedule the appropriate resources. The D2Dlink information may include data from one or both of the D2D devices ina D2D pair and may include measured data, calculated data, or estimateddata regarding the communication channel or the D2D communication. D2Dlink information may include D2D channel characteristics, type of D2Dcommunication, volume of D2D data, and other information. Although thefirst D2D device may receive D2D link data from the second D2D deviceand simply forward it to the base station, the first D2D device willprocess the first device D2D link data and the second device D2D linkdata to generate the D2D link information that will be transmitted tothe base station.

In some situations, therefore, the controller manages the D2Dcommunication link without the need to communicate directly with thesecond D2D device over a wireless link between the base station and thesecond device. In other situations, the first D2D device manages D2Dcommunication in accordance with limitations provided by the controlleras D2D control information transmitted from the base station. Therefore,only the first D2D device maintains direct wireless communication withthe base station in some circumstances. In other circumstances, thesecond D2D device may maintain wireless communication with the basestation for purposes other than D2D communication.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example of a macrocell communicationsystem 1 that supports device to device (D2D) communication where afirst wireless communication device 10 sends D2D control signals 14, 16to a second wireless communication device 20 for D2D link management. Acontroller 25 performs at least some centralized management and controlof a D2D communication link 30 by sending D2D control information 35over a wireless link between a base station 40 and the first wirelesscommunication device 10 without exchanging D2D control informationbetween the base station 40 and the second wireless communication device20. Second device D2D link data 45 is received at the first wirelesscommunication device 10 from the second wireless communication device 20in a received D2D signal 50. In some circumstances, the second deviceD2D link data 45 can be directly forwarded to the base station by thefirst wireless communication device 10 in an uplink macrocell signal 55to allow the controller 25 to evaluate the second device D2D link data45 in order to schedule D2D communication resources. In othercircumstances, the first wireless communication device 10 evaluates thesecond device D2D link data 45, as well as first device D2D link data60, and generates D2D link information 65 which is sent to the basestation 40 and controller 25 in an uplink macrocell signal 70. The D2Dcontrol information 35 is received at the first wireless communicationdevice 10 from the base station 40 in a downlink macrocell signal 55. Ina tightly network-controlled implementation, second device D2D controldata 75 of the D2D control information 35 can be forwarded to the seconddevice 20. In less tightly controlled implementations, the firstwireless communication device 10 applies the D2D control information 35to manage the D2D communication link 30. For example, where the D2Dcontrol information 35 includes D2D resource allocation informationidentifying time-frequency resources for use for the D2D communicationlink 30, the first wireless communication device 10 can determine whichtime-frequency resources will be used for transmitting signals from thefirst wireless communication device 10 and which will be used fortransmitting D2D signals from the second wireless communication device20. In addition, the first wireless communication device 10 candetermine physical format parameters such as Multiple Input MultipleOutput (MIMO) parameters, Modulation Order parameters, Coding Rateparameters, and Power Control parameters. The first wirelesscommunication device 10, therefore, sends second device D2D control data75 to the second wireless communication device 29 that is at leastpartially based on the D2D control information 35 received at the firstwireless communication device 10 from the base station 40.

The use of wireless resources is reduced since only the link between thefirst wireless communication device and the base station needs to bemaintained for D2D communication management. Therefore, the firstwireless communication device maintains a macrocell communication whileengaging in D2D communication. In some circumstances, the secondwireless communication device may also communicate with the basestation. For the example herein, however, no D2D control information istransmitted or received through a wireless link between the secondwireless communication device and the base station.

In addition to D2D control data 75 that is directed to the secondwireless communication device 20, the D2D control information 65exchanged over the macrocell signal 70 with the first wirelesscommunication device 10 typically includes first device D2D control data60 directed to the first wireless communication device 10 as well asmacrocell control signals for managing the macrocell link between thefirst device and the base station. Although the D2D control informationfor both devices can be sent in one signal, multiple transmissions canalso be used. Also, macrocell control information for macrocellcommunication for the first wireless communication device may also besent with the D2D control information in some circumstances. Therefore,the D2D control information 65 may include specific control informationfor each device, for only one device, or may include information that isprocessed by the first device to generate first device control data 60for use by the first device 10 and generate second device control datafor second device 20.

For the example, the second device D2D link data 45 includes bufferstatus reports (BSR). In some circumstances, the second device D2D linkdata 45 may also include D2D channel conditions measured by the secondwireless communication device 20. For the examples herein, however, D2Dchannel conditions are determined and reported to the controller 25 bythe first wireless communication device 10 in the D2D link information35. Techniques of reporting channel conditions from one D2D device totake advantage of D2D channel symmetry are discussed in PCT PatentApplication No. PCT/US2013/042503, entitled “MANAGEMENT OFDEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATION RESOURCES USING CHANNEL SYMMETRY”, filedMay 23, 2013, and incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.Where the first wireless communication device measures the D2D channelcharacteristics, the second wireless communication device periodicallytransmits reference signals 80.

The D2D control information 65 includes one or more of D2D resourceallocation information, paging messages, and synchronizationinformation. The D2D resource allocation information includes anidentification of communication resources allocated for D2Dcommunication where the information at least identifies time-frequencyresources that should be used for D2D transmission. A scheduler 85 thatis communicatively connected to the base station 40 schedules (assigns)communication resources for transmitting D2D signals from the firstwireless communication device to the second wireless communicationdevice and/or from the second wireless communication device to the firstwireless communication device. The scheduler 85 uses reported channelinformation, and possibly other information such as BSR, to schedule theappropriate resources for D2D communication.

For one example, the D2D resource allocation information identifies alltransmission parameters for D2D communication and, therefore, includesthe physical format parameters such as Multiple Input Multiple Output(MIMO) parameters, Coding Rate parameters, Power Control parameters, andModulation Order parameters in addition to the time-frequencyparameters. In another example, however, the scheduler 80 onlyidentifies the time-frequency parameters allowing one or both of thewireless communication devices to determine the MIMO, Coding Rate, PowerControl and Modulation Order parameters. The channel information sent tothe controller in such an example includes only channel informationrequired for the scheduler to assign the time-frequency resources. Thefirst wireless communication device applies other measured channelcharacteristics, extrapolated information, and/or other channelinformation to determine appropriate MIMO, Coding Rate, Power Control,and Modulation Order parameters. These parameters are provided to thesecond wireless communication device as part of the second device D2Dcontrol data 75. In one example for the implementation where thescheduler 85 only assigns time-frequency parameters, the first wirelesscommunication device determines the MIMO, Coding Rate, Power Control andModulation Order parameters that should be used for D2D transmissionfrom the first wireless communication device and the MIMO, Coding Rate,Power Control and Modulation Order parameters that should be used forD2D transmission from the second wireless communication device.

The second device D2D control data 45 may also include timing andsynchronization information. The second wireless communication device 20may obtain synchronization and system timing information from referencesignals 16 transmitted by the first wireless communication device 10 insituations where the second wireless communication device 20 is notmaintaining communication with the base station 40. Accordingly, thetiming and synchronization information that can be determined from thereference signal 16 is also second device D2D control data 45. Thisallows the second wireless communication device 20 to be synchronized tothe system 1 when using macrocell communication resources assigned forD2D communication.

Reference signals transmitted from the wireless communication devicescan be used for device detection/discovery, signal acquisition(reception), channel estimation, and determining channelcharacteristics. Although, other types of reference signals can be used,an example of a suitable technique for transmitting reference signalsincludes periodically transmitting D2D Sounding Reference Signals (SRS).

In one implementation, the second wireless communication device 20periodically transmits D2D reference signals 80 such as D2D SoundingReference Signals (SRS) over communication resources assigned by thecontroller. The first wireless communication device receives thereference signal 40 transmitted from the second wireless communicationdevice 106 and measures at least one signal characteristic to determinethe channel conditions to report to the base station 102. Examples ofsignal characteristics that can be measured include Least Square (LS)estimation, interference and noise power measurement, signal powermeasurement and SINR calculation. The channel information may includedirectly measured parameters or may include information that is based onthe measured parameters depending on the particular implementation. Forthe example discussed herein, the channel information includes ChannelState Information (CSI) of the channel between the second wirelesscommunication device 20 and the first wireless communication device 10.The CSI is determined using techniques similar to convention techniquesfor determining CSI of a channel between a mobile device and a basestation. The scheduler 85 that is communicatively connected to the basestation schedules (assigns) communication resources for transmitting D2Dsignals from the first wireless communication device to the secondwireless communication device. The scheduler 85 uses the reportedchannel information to schedule the appropriate resources. Therefore,measured signal characteristics of reference signals transmitted fromthe second wireless communication device to the first wirelesscommunication device are used to schedule D2D transmissions from thefirst wireless communication device to the second wireless communicationdevice.

As discussed above, the first wireless communication device 10 schedulessome of the D2D communication resources in less tightlysystem-controlled configurations. Accordingly, the contents of the D2Dlink information 35 and the D2D control information 65 depends on thelevel of control exhibited by the system. Less information is requiredto be exchanged with the base station and the first wirelesscommunication device where the first wireless communication device isscheduling resources. As a result, some decisions and functions of thesystem scheduler are performed by a scheduler process in the firstwireless communication device in these situations according to guidingparameters provider by the controller. From the perspective of thesecond wireless communication device 20, the first wirelesscommunication device 10 resembles a base station for purposes of D2Dmanagement.

For the examples herein, the communication system utilizes macrocellcommunication resources for communication between base stations(eNodeBs, eNBs) and wireless communication user equipment devices (UEs).The macrocell communication resources include downlink communicationresources for downlink communication from a base station to wirelesscommunication user equipment (UE) devices and uplink communicationresources for uplink transmissions from the UE devices to the basestation. The uplink communication resources are different from thedownlink communication resources. Some of the macrocell communicationresources are assigned to device-to-device (D2D) communication betweentwo UE devices as needed. The downlink communication resources assignedfor D2D communication are not used for downlink communication. Forexample, if the communication resources are time-frequency communicationresources, the time segments and frequency bands (e.g., sub-carriers)assigned to the D2D communication link are not used by the base station.If uplink communication resources are assigned for D2D communication,the resources are assigned such that interference to other D2Dcommunication and to uplink communication in adjacent cells, as well asthe same cell, is minimized. Examples of suitable techniques formanaging macrocell resources for D2D communication are discussed inPatent Application Serial Number PCT/US2012/064711, entitled “DEVICE TODEVICE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT USING MACROCELL COMMUNICATIONRESOURCES,” filed on Nov. 12, 2012, and incorporated by reference in itsentirety herein.

FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C are block diagrams of an example of thecommunication system 1 where macrocell communication resources are usedfor communication with wireless communication devices to establish thedevice-to-device (D2D) communication link 30 between wirelesscommunication devices. A relationship between macrocell communicationresources and the D2D communication link is shown in FIG. 1B. In FIG.1C, the resources for establishing the D2D communication link are shown.The base station 40 provides wireless communication services to wirelesscommunication user equipment (UE) devices 10,20 within a geographicalservice area, sometimes referred to as a cell. For the example herein,the second device is not directly communicating with the base station.Such as situation may occur where the second wireless communicationdevice does not have macrocell communication capabilities because ofdevice design or because of signal obstruction. The situation may alsooccur where no need exists for the second wireless communication deviceto communicate with the base station at the particular time but couldresume communication if needed. Several base stations are typicallyinterconnected through a backhaul 114 to provide several service areasto cover large areas. The various functions and operations of the blocksdescribed with reference to the communication system 1 may beimplemented in any number of devices, circuits, or elements. Two or moreof the functional blocks may be integrated in a single device, and thefunctions described as performed in any single device may be implementedover several devices. For example, at least some of the functions of thecontroller 25 may be performed by the base stations 40 and vice versa. Acellular communication system is typically required to adhere to acommunication standard or specification. The Third-GenerationPartnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) communicationspecification is a specification for systems where base stations(eNodeBs) provide service to wireless communication devices (userequipment (UE) devices) using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing(OFDM) on the downlink and single-carrier frequency-division multipleaccess (SC-FDMA) on the uplink. Although the techniques described hereinmay be applied in other types of communication systems, the exemplarysystems discussed herein operate in accordance with a 3GPP LTEcommunication specification.

The base station 40 is a fixed transceiver station, sometimes referredto as an eNodeB or eNB, which may include a controller in somecircumstances. The base station 40 is connected to a controller 25through the backhaul 114 which may include any combination of wired,optical, and/or wireless communication channels. For the examplesherein, the controller 25 includes the functionality of the MobilityManagement Entity (MME) and the Packet Gateway (P-GW) in a 3GPP LTEcommunication system. Accordingly, the controller 25 includes thescheduler 85. In the example, the scheduler 85 allocates time-frequencyresources for D2D communication between the wireless communicationdevices 10, 20 and for macrocell communication between the base station40 and the wireless communication device 10.

The wireless (UE) communication devices 10, 20 may be referred to asmobile devices, wireless devices, wireless communication devices, andmobile wireless devices, UEs, UE devices as well as by other terms. Thewireless communication UE devices 10, 20 include electronics and codefor communicating with base stations and with other wirelesscommunication devices in D2D configurations. The wireless communicationdevices include devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants(PDAs), wireless modem cards, wireless modems, televisions with wirelesscommunication electronics, and laptop and desktop computers as well asother devices. The combination of wireless communication electronicswith an electronic device, therefore, may form a wireless communicationdevice 10. For example, a wireless communication device may include awireless modem connected to an appliance, computer, or television.

The base station 40 includes a wireless transceiver that exchangeswireless signals 55, 70 with the wireless communication device 10.Transmissions from the base stations 40 and from the wirelesscommunication device 10 are governed by a communication specificationthat defines signaling, protocols, and parameters of the transmission.The communication specification may provide strict rules forcommunication and may also provide general requirements where specificimplementations may vary while still adhering to the communicationspecification. Although the discussion below is directed to the 3GPPLong Term Evolution (LTE) communication specification, othercommunication specifications may be used in some circumstances. Thecommunication specification defines at least a data channel and acontrol channel for uplink and downlink transmissions and specifies atleast some timing and frequency parameters for physical downlink controlchannels from a base station to a wireless communication device.

The macrocell communication resources 121 are used for transmitting thedownlink signals 70 and the uplink signals 55. The base station 40transmits downlink signals 70 to the wireless communication device 10using scheduled downlink communication resources of the defined downlinkcommunication resources defined by the communication specification andreserved for downlink communication. The wireless communication device10 transmits uplink signals 55 to the base station 40 using scheduleduplink communication resources of the defined uplink communicationresources defined by the communication specification and reserved foruplink communication. The macrocell communication resources 121 includefrequency bands divided in time where each frequency band and segment oftime can be identified by the scheduler 85 and described in controlsignals sent from the base station 40 to the wireless communicationdevice 10. The communication specifications, or other system rules,therefore, define applicable communication resources for the downlinkand applicable communication resources for the uplink. The scheduler 85allocates different time-frequency resources to different devices toefficiently utilize the resources while minimizing interference.Accordingly, the scheduled macrocell communication resources used forsignals 55, 70 exchanged with one wireless communication device 10 aredifferent from scheduled macrocell communication resources used forother signals exchanged with other wireless communication devices. Asreferred to herein, therefore, the macrocell communication resources 121are the communication resources reserved for communication by thespecification and/or communication system rules. The scheduled resourcesfor transmission for particular signals, however, are a subset of thereserved macrocell communication resources 121.

Some of the defined macrocell communication resources are assigned(scheduled) for D2D communication. This portion (122) of definedmacrocell communication resources 121, referred to as D2D communicationresources 122, is typically scheduled dynamically as needed and based onchannel conditions as well as other criteria. The scheduler 85,therefore, may assign either defined macrocell downlink communicationresources, defined macrocell uplink communication resources, or both forD2D communication.

In certain situations, it may be desirable for the wirelesscommunication device to communicate directly over a D2D communicationlink instead of through base stations. During D2D communication, thefirst wireless communication device 10 transmits first D2D signals 124(such as the signals 14, 16) to the second wireless communication device20, and the second wireless communication device 20 transmits second D2Dsignals 126 (such as signals 50, 80) to the first wireless communicationdevice 10. In some situations, the D2D transmission may only be in onedirection. For example, a D2D link may be established from a laptop to adisplay where only the laptop transmits signals to the display forbroadcasting, streaming and other purposes.

For efficient D2D communications, the wireless communication devicestypically must be close to each other. Since many wireless communicationdevices are mobile, the distance between any two devices changes. As aresult, either the network or one of the wireless communication devicesmust determine that the wireless communication devices are sufficientlyclose for D2D communication. In the examples herein, a wirelesscommunication device detects another nearby wireless communicationdevice by receiving a reference signal transmitted by the other wirelesscommunication device. After detection, the wireless communication devicemay attempt to initiate a D2D communication link 30.

The scheduler 85 allocates time-frequency resources for communicationbetween the base station 40 and the wireless communication device 10. Inaddition, the controller 25, scheduler 85, and/or the base station 40schedule(s) sounding reference signals (SRS) on the uplink. In theexamples discussed herein, the scheduler 85 also allocates (schedules)time-frequency resources for transmission of D2D reference signals, suchas D2D SRS, from the wireless communication UE devices 10, 20 toestablish and/or maintain the device-to-device (D2D) communication link30. The D2D SRS transmissions are used for device detection/discovery,signal acquisition (reception), channel estimation, and determining CSI.Examples of such techniques are described in PCT patent applicationserial number PCT/US2012/64712, docket number TUTL 00212 PC, filed onNov. 12, 2012, and incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. Inthe examples herein, therefore, wireless communication devicesdetect/discover other wireless communication devices in their vicinityby transmitting and receiving D2D SRS signals.

As discussed above, when one wireless communication device is aware ofanother wireless communication device and intends to communicate withthe other wireless communication device, it may be more efficient tocommunicate through a D2D communication link instead of through thenetwork. In order to avoid interference, the communication resourcesused for the D2D communication link 30 must be assigned or scheduled.Although it may be possible for the wireless communication devices totrack and assign communication resources autonomously, a morecentralized controller within the network can more easily manage thescheduling, reducing processing at the wireless communication devices.As described above, however, some of the D2D management may still beperformed by the wireless communication device 10 where the controller25 provides general control information.

Referring now to FIG. 1C, the communication system 1 utilizes downlinkcommunication resources 128 for downlink communication from a basestation to wireless communication user equipment (UE) devices andutilizes uplink communication resources 130 for uplink transmissionsfrom the UE devices to the base station. The uplink communicationresources are different from the downlink communication resources.Depending on the particular implementation, some of the downlinkcommunication resources 128, some of the uplink communication resources130, or some of both are assigned for device-to-device (D2D)transmission from wireless communication (UE) devices as needed.Accordingly, the D2D signals 124, 126 may use downlink communicationresources 128 or uplink communication resources 130 assigned by thescheduler 85. The communication resources 122 assigned for D2Dcommunication are not used for downlink communication. For example, ifthe communication resources are time-frequency communication resources,the time segments and frequency bands assigned for D2D transmission arenot used by the base station to serve non-D2D wireless communication(UE) devices. If uplink communication resources are assigned for D2Dcommunication, the scheduling of those resources to other devices ismanaged to minimize interference.

The wireless communication (UE) devices transmit the D2D signals 124,126 using the assigned communication resources 122. As discussed herein,defined downlink communication resources are communication resourcesdefined by a communication specification as the communication resourcesreserved for downlink communication from a base station to wirelesscommunication devices. Scheduled downlink communication resources are asubset of the defined downlink communication resources that have beenassigned (scheduled) for downlink communication between a base stationand a wireless communication device, and D2D communication resources 122are a subset of the defined downlink communication resources that havebeen assigned (scheduled) for D2D transmission from wirelesscommunication devices if downlink communication resources are used forD2D communication.

Also as discussed herein, defined uplink communication resources arecommunication resources defined by a communication specification as thecommunication resources reserved for uplink communication from awireless communication devices to base stations. Scheduled uplinkcommunication resources are a subset of the defined uplink communicationresources that have been assigned (scheduled) for uplink communicationbetween a wireless communication device and a base station, and D2Dcommunication resources 122 are a subset of the defined uplinkcommunication resources that have been assigned (scheduled) for D2Dtransmission from wireless communication devices if uplink resources areused for D2D communication. Therefore, the defined macrocellcommunication resources 121 include defined macrocell downlinkcommunication resources 128 and defined macrocell uplink communicationresources 130 where a subset of one or both of the defined resources areassigned for D2D communication.

For the examples herein, the communication network manages D2Dcommunication links by receiving and transmitting information overmacrocell communication resources with only one of the D2D devices. Thewireless communication device 10 transmits D2D link information 35 tothe base station using macrocell uplink communication resources and thebase station transmits D2D link establishment messages 134 to thewireless communication devices using macrocell downlink communicationresources. The D2D link establishment messages 134 are, therefore, anexample of D2D control information 65. Examples of techniques forestablishing D2D calls are discussed in PCT Patent Application No.PCT/US2013/040584 entitled “MANAGEMENT OF DEVICE-TO-DEVICE COMMUNICATIONRESOURCES USING MACROCELL COMMUNICATION RESOURCES”, filed on May 10,2013 and incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. As discussedin the referenced PCT Application No PCT/US2013/040584, the a D2Dcall/session can be initiated by a wireless communication device bysending a D2D call initiation message using macrocell uplinkcommunication resources. The D2D call initiation message can furtherinclude a D2D call type indicator indicating whether the establishmentof the D2D communication link is for a Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP) call or for a transfer of data. If the D2D call type indicatorindicates the transfer of data, the D2D call initiation message furtherincludes a D2D Buffer Status Report (BSR) indicating a volume of data tobe transmitted over the D2D communication link.

The first wireless communication device, in response to the basestation, transmits D2D link information 35 to the base station. The D2Dlink information 35 may include any parameter or indicator that providesthe base station information regarding the communication link betweenthe first wireless communication device and the second wirelesscommunication device. The D2D link information 35 at least includeschannel information and may include parameters describing the channelquality, amount of data to be transmitted over the D2D link,transmission power and other information. For the examples herein, theD2D link information 35 may include a D2D Buffer Status Report (BSR)indicating a volume of data to be transmitted over the D2D communicationlink, a D2D Power Headroom Report (PHR) indicating availabletransmission power for D2D transmission over the D2D communication link,and D2D Channel State Information (CSI) comprising at least onecharacteristic of a channel of the D2D communication link. For thisexample, therefore, the D2D link information 35 is an example of uplinkD2D control information 106. The D2D link information 35 may include thesecond device D2D link data 50 obtained from the second wirelesscommunication device 20 and/or information generated by the firstwireless communication device. For example, the CSI of the channel maybe determined by the first wireless communication device 10 and a BSRmay be provided by the second wireless communication device in thesecond device D2D control data transmitted in D2D signal 50.

The base station sends D2D link establishment information 134 to thefirst wireless communication device 10 where some of the information maybe directed to the second wireless communication device. The D2D linkestablishment information includes information that allows the wirelesscommunication devices to communicate over the D2D communication link andincludes scheduling information for time-frequency communicationresources to be used for the D2D communication link. The D2D linkestablishment information may include specific information for a singleone-way D2D transmission or may include more general channel informationsuch as identification of authorized D2D resources that allow thewireless communication devices to schedule multiple D2D transmissionswithout specific instruction by the network for each transmission. TheD2D link establishment information is transmitted to the wirelesscommunication device using macrocell downlink communication resources.As discussed in the referenced PCT application No. PCT/US2013/040584, anexample of a suitable technique for transmitting the D2D linkestablishment information 134 includes sending the information over aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH). Such a PDCCH is similar to aconventional PDCCH transmission assigning communication resources formacrocell communication except that the identified communicationresources are assigned for D2D communication instead of conventionalmacrocell communication.

For the examples, therefore, the scheduler 85 in the controller 25allocates D2D time-frequency resources 122 to the wireless communicationdevices 10, 20 by providing the D2D link establishment information 134(D2D control information 70) to the first wireless communication device10. The information 134 is transmitted by the base station using thePDCCH although the information may be transmitted using any number ofcontrol signals, and/or messages. The D2D link establishment information134 may be processed by the first wireless communication device 10 togenerate the second device control data 75.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example of a method of managing D2Dcommunication performed at a wireless communication device (UE) such asthe first wireless communication device 10.

At step 202, the wireless communication device 10 receives second deviceD2D link data 45 from another wireless communication device 20. Thesecond device D2D link data 45 may include any types of conventionalcontrol signals used for communication with a base station inconventional system. Paging messages, CSI, acknowledgment (ACK)messages, non-acknowledgment (NACK) messages are examples of D2D linkdata. Some of the second device D2D link data 45 may be data fortransmission to the base station while other data may be for processingby the first wireless communication device. For example, if the seconddevice D2D link data includes a Buffer Status Report, this informationmay be forwarded to the base station. The Buffer Status Report indicatesthe volume of data to be transmitted.

Step 202 cannot typically occur immediately after device detection insituations where the second wireless communication device 20 does nothave system timing. For example, some information control data must beprovided to the second wireless communication device before it cantransmits over the D2D link. In some implementations, the first wirelesscommunication device always initiates the D2D session. In suchsituation, the first device detects the second device by listening tothe reference signals transmitted by the second device. Then the firstdevice provides the relevant control information (timing, sync, andresources on which the second device can transmit its information.Accordingly, step 202 will occur after such information is provided.

At step 204, the wireless communication device 10 determines firstdevice D2D link data. In the example, the first wireless communicationdevice channel characteristics of the D2D link 30 by measuring andevaluating a reference signal 80 transmitted by the second wirelesscommunication device. Therefore, the first device link data 60 mayinclude channel condition information, such as D2D Channel StateInformation (CSI) comprising at least one characteristic of a channel ofthe D2D communication link, in some situations. Other information, suchas D2D Buffer Status Report (BSR) indicating a volume of data to betransmitted over the D2D communication link by the first device 10, anda D2D Power Headroom Report (PHR) indicating available transmissionpower for D2D transmission over the D2D communication link may also bepart of the first device D2D link information.

At step 206, the wireless communication device 10 determines the D2Dlink information. In the example, the first device 10 evaluates thefirst device D2D link data 60 and the second device D2D link data 45 togenerate the D2D link information 55. The D2D channel information may beinformation that is calculated based on measured channel characteristicor may be the channel characteristics. An example of D2D channelinformation is CSI. For the example, the D2D channel information istransmitted as part of D2D link information. In addition to CSI, the D2Dlink information may include a D2D Buffer Status Report (BSR) indicatinga volume of data to be transmitted over the D2D communication link and aD2D Power Headroom Report (PHR) indicating available transmission powerfor D2D transmission over the D2D communication link. In some situationswhere a D2D voice call is being initiated, the BSR may be omitted. TheD2D link information in these situations may also include an indicatorindicating that the D2D call is a voice call. Therefore, the channelcharacteristics for the D2D link information is typically maintained bythe wireless communication device by evaluating the periodicallytransmitted reference signals by the second wireless communicationdevice. The D2D link information is transmitted to the base stationusing macrocell uplink communication resources. For the examples, theD2D link information is transmitted with the macrocell CSI informationfor the macrocell communication link between the base station and thefirst wireless communication device 104. Transmission of the D2D linkinformation is similar to transmission of BSR, CSI, and PHR inconventional macrocell communication. The transmission of the D2D linkinformation, however, also includes an indication that the informationis related to a D2D communication link. Accordingly, the D2D linkinformation may be transmitted on a PUSCH or PUCCH along with macrocelllink information. For the examples herein, the wireless communicationdevice maintains a macrocell connection while engaging in D2Dcommunication and provides channel characteristics of the macrocellchannel as well D2D link information.

At step 208, the wireless communication device 10 sends the D2D linkinformation to the base station (eNB) 40.

At step 210, the wireless communication device 10 receives D2D controlinformation from the base station (eNB) 40. The D2D control informationincludes D2D resource allocation information indentifying D2Dcommunication resources. As discussed above, the D2D communicationresources are a subset of the defined communication resources defined bythe communication specification for the system 1. The D2D controlinformation is transmitted over the Physical Downlink Control Channel(PDCCH) in the examples. Accordingly, the link establishment informationis received by the wireless communication device 10 using macrocelldownlink communication resources. In the examples, the D2D linkestablishment information identifies the subset of defined macrocellcommunication resources that are to be used for transmission of D2Dsignals from either the first wireless communication device to thesecond wireless communication device and/or from the second wirelesscommunication device to the first wireless communication device. The D2Dcontrol information includes Transport Format Selection and PowerControl commands for D2D transmission in some cases.

For the example of FIG. 2, the D2D control information identifiestime-frequency resources but does not specify physical parameters suchas Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) parameters, Modulation Orderparameters, Coding Rate parameters, and Power Control parameters. Insome situations, some or all of these physical parameters can beprovided by the network.

At step 212, D2D communication resources are scheduled by the firstwireless communication device. In a more tightly system-controlledimplementation, the scheduling and processing includes allocatingresources and sending control signals to the second wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the specific instructionsincluded in the D2D control information. In less tightlysystem-controlled implementations, the first wireless communicationdevice evaluates the first device D2D link data 60, the second deviceD2D link data 45, and the D2D control information 65 to allocateresources for D2D communication. In one example, the D2D controlinformation includes the time-frequency resources without specifyingphysical parameters. As a result, the first wireless communicationdevice evaluates the first device D2D link data 60 and the second deviceD2D link data 45 to determine physical parameters such as MIMOparameters, Modulation Order parameters, Coding Rate parameters, andPower Control parameters.

At step 214, the second device D2D control data 75 is transmitted to thesecond wireless communication device 20. The data 75 includes D2Dcommunication resources such as time-frequency resources as well asphysical parameters such as MIMO parameters, Modulation Orderparameters, Coding Rate parameters, and Power Control parameters. Asdescribed above, in some circumstances, the second device D2D controldata 75 includes system timing and synchronization information. Areference signal 16 that is transmitted in accordance with system timingprovides timing information to the second wireless communication device.For the example, the first wireless communication device 10 periodicallytransmits reference signals. An example of a suitable technique isdiscussed in the above-referenced patent PCT application serial numberPCT/US2012/64712. Accordingly, the second wireless communication devicereceives a reference signal, such as a SRS, from the first wirelesscommunication device for synchronization. As a result, the secondwireless communication device 20 does not need to maintain acommunication link with the base station to be synchronized to thesystem.

Clearly, other embodiments and modifications of this invention willoccur readily to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of theseteachings. The above description is illustrative and not restrictive.This invention is to be limited only by the following claims, whichinclude all such embodiments and modifications when viewed inconjunction with the above specification and accompanying drawings. Thescope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not withreference to the above description, but instead should be determinedwith reference to the appended claims along with their full scope ofequivalents.

1. An apparatus for controlling a first wireless communication devicecapable of communicating with a base station, the apparatus comprising aprocessor and a memory electrically coupled to the processor, theprocessor configured to: derive system timing of a cellularcommunication system from synchronization information received from thebase station; receive from the base station, parameters on radioresources used for a direct communication link between the firstwireless communication device and a second wireless communicationdevice; transfer the parameters to the second wireless communicationdevice not having a communication link with the base station; transmit asynchronization signal to the second wireless communication device inaccordance with the system timing, the synchronization signal used bythe second wireless communication device to synchronize with the firstwireless communication device; and receive Channel State Information(CSI) of the direct communication link from the second wirelesscommunication device.
 2. An apparatus for controlling a first wirelesscommunication device capable of communicating with a base station, theapparatus comprising a processor and a memory electrically coupled tothe processor, the processor configured to: derive system timing of acellular communication system from synchronization information receivedfrom the base station; receive, from the base station, parameters onradio resources used for a direct communication link between the firstwireless communication device and a second wireless communicationdevice; transfer the parameters to the second wireless communicationdevice not having a communication link with the base station; transmit asynchronization signal to the second wireless communication device inaccordance with the system timing, the synchronization signal used bythe second wireless communication device to synchronize with the firstwireless communication device; receive, from the second wirelesscommunication device, feedback information including an acknowledgment(ACK) or a non-acknowledgment (NACK); and transmit control informationincluding the feedback information to the base station.